U.S. patent application number 10/583185 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-07 for device for locking a connector module in a module holder.
Invention is credited to Philippe Daudin, Gilles Schmitt.
Application Number | 20080032550 10/583185 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34630377 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080032550 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Daudin; Philippe ; et
al. |
February 7, 2008 |
Device for Locking a Connector Module in a Module Holder
Abstract
The invention relates to a housing for a connector, including at
least one contact-holder module, a frame for receiving this module
and a stirrup which is used as an aid for coupling to an additional
connector, which can be manoeuvred between a decoupling position
and a coupling position between the housing and the additional
connector, wherein the stirrup comprises means for retaining the
module in a module lock position inside the frame.
Inventors: |
Daudin; Philippe; (Pierres,
FR) ; Schmitt; Gilles; (Senantes, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARRINGTON & SMITH, PC
4 RESEARCH DRIVE
SHELTON
CT
06484-6212
US
|
Family ID: |
34630377 |
Appl. No.: |
10/583185 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 30, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP04/13652 |
371 Date: |
June 5, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/571 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/514 20130101;
H01R 13/62927 20130101; H01R 13/518 20130101; H01R 13/62911
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/571 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/74 20060101
H01R013/74 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 19, 2003 |
FR |
0315049 |
Claims
1. A connector housing comprising at least one contact-holder
module, a frame for receiving this module and a stirrup, for
purposes of coupling with a complementary connector, that can be
maneuvered between a decoupling position and a coupling position
for housing and complementary connector, characterized in that
stirrup has means for holding module in a position for locking
module in frame.
2. The connector housing according to claim 1, further
characterized in that means for holding the module are arranged so
that they are active when the stirrup is in position for coupling
housing and complementary connector and inactive when the stirrup
is in the decoupling position.
3. The connector housing according to claim 1, further
characterized in that module and frame have first complementary
latching means for holding the module in locking position in the
frame.
4. The connector housing according to claim 1, further
characterized in that module and frame have second complementary
latching means for holding the module in a set-back position for
pre-mounting of the module in the frame.
5. The connector housing according to claim 1, further
characterized in that first means for latching module in frame
comprise a spring digit borne by the frame and a first stop element
borne by the module.
6. The connector housing according to claim 5, further
characterized in that the spring digit cooperates with a second
stop element borne by the module to create the second latching
means.
7. The connector housing according to claim 1, further
characterized in that stirrup is a stirrup sliding in the frame
crosswise to the direction for coupling the housing and the
complementary connector, means for holding the module comprising a
cross rail that rests on a shoulder of a rib of module to lock
module in frame.
8. The connector housing according to claim 1, further
characterized in that module and stirrup comprise complementary
means for preventing a maneuvering of the stirrup when the module
is not in locking position.
9. The connector housing according to claim 7, further
characterized in that complementary means for preventing a
maneuvering of the stirrup are made up of said rib and a frontal
edge of said rail.
Description
[0001] The present invention concerns a device for locking a
connector module in a module holder.
[0002] In the automobile field, in particular, it is known to
provide electrical contact bearing modules and to install these
modules in frames, forming module holders, which are provided with
systems for assisting coupling such as mobile locking stirrups
coupled with a complementary connector.
[0003] Such an arrangement permits, in particular, the pre-wiring
of modules with their electrical contacts and the electrical wiring
harnesses to which they are connected, then mounting them in their
receiving frames to create complete connector housings.
[0004] The present invention concerns a connector housing having a
device for locking the module in the frame in which the stirrup
participates in locking the module, particularly in order to
precisely position the module with regard to the complementary
connector.
[0005] In order to do this, the invention principally concerns a
connector housing comprising at least one contact holder module, a
receiving frame for this module and a stirrup, for coupling with a
complementary connector, that can be maneuvered between a
decoupling position and a coupling position of the housing and the
complementary connector, for which the stirrup has means for
holding the module in a position for locking the module in the
frame.
[0006] The module retaining means can notably be arranged so that
they are active when the stirrup is in the position for coupling
the housing and the complementary connector and inactive when the
stirrup is in the decoupling position.
[0007] Advantageously, the module and the frame bear first
complementary latching means for maintaining the module in locking
position in the frame.
[0008] More particularly, the module and the frame may also
comprise second complementary latching means for holding the module
in a set-back position prior to mounting the module in the
frame.
[0009] In a particular embodiment, the first latching means for the
module in the frame comprise a spring digit borne by the frame and
a first stop element borne by the module.
[0010] More particularly, the spring digit can cooperate with a
second stop element borne by the module in order to create the
second latching means.
[0011] The stirrup can notably be a stirrup sliding in the frame
crosswise to the direction of coupling of the housing and the
complementary connector, the means for holding the module
comprising a cross rail that is supported on a shoulder of a rib of
the module for locking the module in the frame.
[0012] According to one particularly advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the module and the stirrup have complementary means for
preventing a maneuvering of the stirrup when the module is not in
locking position.
[0013] These complementary means for preventing maneuvering of the
stirrup are advantageously made up by said rib and a frontal edge
of said rail.
[0014] In FIG. 1: A perspective view of the components of a
connector housing according to the invention.
[0015] In FIG. 2: A perspective view of the housing of FIG. 1, with
the module in pre-mounted position.
[0016] In FIG. 3: A view of the housing of FIG. 1 in position of
coupling with a complementary connector housing;
[0017] In FIG. 4: A sectional view from the side of the housing of
FIG. 1 with the module in the pre-mounted position.
[0018] In FIG. 5: A sectional view from the side of the housing of
FIG. 1 with the module in the mounted position.
[0019] In FIG. 6: A bottom view of a module and a stirrup according
to the invention, the stirrup being in decoupling position.
[0020] In FIG. 7: A bottom view of a module and a stirrup according
to the invention, the stirrup being in coupling position.
[0021] The connector housing 10 shown in FIG. 1 has at least one
module 2 bearing contacts 100. Such contact-holder modules are
frequently used, notably within the scope of creating automobile
wiring harnesses for facilitating the handling of the housings to
be wired.
[0022] In contrast, when equipping a vehicle, it is desirable to
provide for connection devices furnished with coupling aids,
particularly lever or stirrup devices to facilitate the coupling of
connectors either with one another or onto electronic
equipment.
[0023] According to the example shown, the device for aiding
coupling comprises a stirrup 3 provided with ramps 13 designed to
receive pegs 12 borne by a complementary connector 4 shown in FIG.
4 to permit the coupling of housing 10 and complementary connector
4.
[0024] Stirrup 3 slides into a receiving frame 1 for module 2 and
can be maneuvered between a position for decoupling housing 10 from
complementary connector 4 for which pegs 12 are released from ramps
13 and a position for coupling housing 10 with complementary
connector 4 for which pegs 12 are held at the bottom of ramps
13.
[0025] Module 2 is received in frame 1 and can be positioned in a
pre-mounting position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 and pressed into frame
1 into a locking position, which is shown particularly in FIG.
5.
[0026] In order to hold module 2 in locking position in frame 1,
module 2 and frame 1 have first complementary latching means 8, 10
for holding the module in locking position in the frame. These
means are made up of spring digits or tabs 8 on the frame and first
stops 10 on module 2. The spring digits have a face 8a resting
against stops 10 which prevent withdrawal of the module. According
to the example, two first stops are arranged on the lateral outer
faces of the module and two digits are positioned on the inner
faces of the frame facing said lateral faces.
[0027] In order to hold module 2 in the pre-mounting position in
frame 1, the module and the frame have second complementary
latching means 8, 9 for holding the module in a set-back position
before mounting the module in the frame. These second means
comprise spring digits 8 and second stops 9 positioned on the
lateral faces of the module in front of the first stops relative to
face 14 for coupling the module with complementary connector 4.
[0028] According to the present invention, stirrup 3 comprises
means 5 for holding module 2 in a position for locking module 2 in
frame 1. These holding means act on a surface of the module such as
a shoulder on ribs 6 or the module pegs and permit applying
coupling face 14 of the module against a corresponding face of
complementary connector 4, and this is performed directly under the
action of stirrup 3. Thus, according to the invention, the
positioning of the module with regard to complementary connector 4
is no longer dependent on the dimensions and possible play in
positioning the module in the frame but is directly obtained by
resting the stirrup on the module during engagement of pegs 12 of
the complementary connector in ramps 13 of the stirrup. In
addition, there is no danger of loss of insertion force on the
contacts borne by the module and by the complementary connector due
to a possible lack of rigidity of the frame, since according to the
invention, the stirrup rests directly on the module.
[0029] In contrast, in order to permit insertion of the module into
the frame, the holding means are inactive when the stirrup is in
decoupling position, i.e., they are disengaged.
[0030] As seen previously, stirrup 3 is a stirrup that slides in
the frame crosswise to the direction of coupling of the housing and
the complementary connector. For the stirrup to rest on the module
during coupling of housing 10 with complementary connector 4, means
5 for holding the module comprise two cross rails 5 resting on
shoulders 7 of ribs 6 of module 2. Thus, the stirrup locks module 2
in frame 1 and rests the module directly on complementary connector
4.
[0031] When the stirrup is in standby or decoupling position of the
housing and a complementary connector, as diagramed in FIGS. 1 and
2 and in FIG. 6 where only the module and the stirrup are shown,
the module can be inserted into the frame, and rails 5 of the
stirrup are moved away from the path of ribs 6 during passage of
the module from the pre-mounting position to the locking position.
In contrast, if the stirrup is not in standby position, for
example, it is in a position intermediate between the standby
position and the coupling position, rail 5 prevents mounting the
module in the frame.
[0032] In addition, when the module is positioned in the frame,
maneuvering the stirrup from the standby position to the locking
position is not possible as long as the module is not in locking
position. In fact, if, for example, the module is in the
pre-mounting position or in a position intermediate between the
pre-mounting position and the locking position, rib 6 is found in
the path of a frontal edge 11 of the rail and prevents a
maneuvering of the stirrup.
[0033] In contrast, as shown in FIG. 7, when the module is in
locking position, rails 5 of the stirrup can slide on the shoulders
of ribs 6.
[0034] Thus, the device according to the invention permits a great
precision for positioning module 2 with regard to complementary
connector 4, an excellent transmission of the forces applied to
stirrup 3 on module 2 during coupling with a complementary
connector 4 and a secure operation, since stirrup 3 cannot be
maneuvered from the decoupling position to the coupling position if
the module is not in the locking position, but rather is in a
position intermediate between the pre-mounting position and the
locking position.
* * * * *